The second collection, Pretty Party, is on display at the Crate Paper blog! Hop on over there to find out what it's all about - cuteness awaits!
I feel like the momentum and tandum of quilting is starting to embed itself into my work. And even though I'm no longer a quilter (wish I was 'cause I'm loving the new fabric releases lately!), there's still a part of me that leans ever-so-slightly to the fabric side of things. It certainly doesn't help that Pinterest serves to unite the entire crafts/design industry, given that everything I find there is suddenly influencing my crafting habits, and not necessarily for the better. Laugh. I've too many ideas, and not enough time to try them all out! I'm realizing that there is such a thing as "too much" inspiration...and the "quilt" pins won't leave me alone! Still adore the hobby...
Every child has a sizable pile of stuffed animals tucked away in their closet, under their bed, or in the middle of mom's living room floor. I've always kept Ethan's animal collection at a reasonable size, however, there are two or three of them that have been stalking him for years, including this heavily worn shaggy dog. Already, I've had to make minor repairs to it and thankfully, this woman can sew, as it's seams have come apart more than once! Obvioulsy, it's undergone some serious wear and tear over the years, but it's been an immense source of security for Ethan - there's rarely a night he's without it!
Random patchwork is just that, "random". It's free-form trim work pieced together with the help of instinct and an underlying source of color/pattern knowledge. And just as with traditional quilting, it's centered within the confines of a frame. I chose a dark, neutral colored cardstock for the framework. It's a nice contrast to the white background without competing with the patchwork.
There is a little Sassafras "love" to be had in these alphas. Still have a large assortment of them at my disposal from having served as a team member for the company years ago. I've always enjoyed their product and miss them terribly!
Stamps - I've not always known what to do with them, but inside a circle label, and secured by a brad, this red "love" stamp is right at home.
I'm a collector of die-cuts. I've shown them here previously, but it's been a while since I last spoke on the subject. Let it be known, they're a huge, immediate resource to me for collage work. Either as a whole, or sectioned off into different parts, die-cuts take up space! They can be used exclusively for their decorative features, or for more practical purposes such as journaling or labeling. I tend to view them more as mini sheets of pattern paper, rather than as small individual embellishments. I take off an edge and glue it here or there, and then throw away the remainder. I do the same with small printed transparencies. My Mind's Eye regularily makes available 4" x 6" transparencies with each of their collections, and I buy nearly every single one of them. They're always chalked full of great designs!
K & Company recently introduced a new "nature-inspired" collection titled, Edamame. It's available at both Jo Ann, and Michael retail stores. The vertical orange/pink florals on the layout are from the collection's die-cut combo pack. I distressed them slightly and folded their edges forward.
The vacation thus far hasn't been much of a vacation, but then again, it's CHA time! Laugh. Speaking of which, for those of you attending CHA, note that I won't be at the show. A couple of you inquired as to my presense at the event, and sadly, I just couldn't pull it off this time around. School starts next week and I've waiting for me, Business Calculus, Accounting II, and Macro Economics...Lord help me!
